Former CM’s son to join YSR Congress

Nellore district is giving several surprises to the political observers. It has been an important place to keep an eye on the political developments here, particularly with the elections fast approaching.

It was the Anam family that gave a surprise to the people and shock to the ruling Telugu Desam Party a couple of months ago. After the death of Anam Vivekananda Reddy, his brother Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, a former finance minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh, had joined the YSR Congress quitting the TDP. The two brothers, who have been a formidable force in the Nellore district politics for two decades, have joined the TDP in 2016. However, they were not happy with the TDP as it did not honour them. They expected that Ramanarayana Reddy would be made MLC and succeed Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.

The initial plan was that Ramakrishnudu would be sent to Rajya Sabha and be made a Union Minister and Chandrababu Naidu wanted to take Ramanarayana Reddy as the finance minister in the State. But, the political developments which led to the TDP breaking alliance with the BJP had closed the doors for this plan and the Anam family could not be accommodated. This had disappointed Ramanarayana Reddy leading to his exit from the TDP and joining the YSR Congress.

Now, the district had given yet another surprise. Former chief minister Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy’s son Ramkumar Reddy had met Jaganmohan Reddy in East Godavari district the other day and had hinted at joining the YSR Congress. The Nedurumalli family has strong connections in Venkatagiri Assembly constituency and Ramkumar Reddy’s entry will certainly be an advantage for the YSR Congress in the district.

The entry of Anam and Nedurumalli families gives an edge to the YSR Congress in the district politics brightening its electoral prospects. The only tough task for Jaganmohan Reddy is to bring the Mekapati family close to these two families to ensure easy walk over for the party in the next elections. It is said that the Mekapati family is not happy with the Anam’s entry and it is to be seen how the Mekapati brothers would react with the Nedurumalli’s family coming to the party.